Eye Candy - My Superstar System

Sue Hunter

Thursday, 23rd February 2017 1115hrs

I bade Mr Edwards farewell after I had done my tasks and I wondered how long I shall be attacking that mountainous pile of books and sorting them into the bins.

The Skill Book of Manipulation was kept under lock and key as Mr Edwards informed me that the Skills Book would need to be evaluated. Even though the book was dusty, but it had some value as the book was intact and had no torn pages or bumped edges. He informed me that he would need to know who purchased this book and refer it to his records.

“If this Skill Book does not fall under such records, then I know what to do with it.” That was the parting words from Mr Edwards as he instructed his associates to handle the Book of Manipulation instead.

I am not sure if I should feel elated or deflated since the Book of Manipulation is not in my hands anymore. But I am sure the lucky penny that I had found while I did the housekeeping today would do me good.

I reached my workplace and changed into my uniform before heading for lunch. I was a bit late for lunch so I hurried to wolf down the Dum Briyani Rice with Masala Chicken Curry. I had the vegetarian Dalcha and the Achar as well and it was pretty good. I am eating as fine as the customers but the dishes that I am having right now is not on the menu and this is being served for employees only.

I was in seventh heaven when I realised it as I saw that the menu had a few flavours for the Chapati and Karak as well. It was finger-lickin' good!

As I was about to return to the kitchen to report for my overtime shift work, I met Mr Aziz along the way and greeted him. He looked at me and smiled as he nodded when he realised that even though I was late coming for lunch, I had reported to work in the kitchen area 10 minutes before the actual time.

Several hours later……….

I was pushing the excess water off the floor as I did the closing for the kitchen as well. It was a job well done and I checked everything and ensured that everything was in order before I leave.

I was past 1 am when I stepped out of my work clothes and into my day clothes as I headed out of the restaurant from the back door. As I walked to the shelter, I do pass some of the destitute that were spending the wintry nights under the stars and I saw one that looked like a player that had a carton box covering his or her part of the body. I wanted to pass the poor person but I made up my mind to stop and squatted down beside him or her.

“Hey, are you a player? What are you doing here? Have you taken your supper? How long have you been online or been playing this game?”

I shot a few questions at the person as he or she stirred from slumber and moved the carton box a little to peek above it. I happen to know that this person is a player as he or she is wearing the same outfit the day I had come into this world.

“I am a player, yeah. Whaddaya want? Of course, I am sleeping here, what else do you think I am doing? I’ve not taken any meals since I got here and do you have some cash to spare or something? If not, go buzz off. I am trying to conserve my energy so I could find something to eat tomorrow. There’s someplace where I could scrounge for food around here, right?”

The voice sounded female and I can't help feeling empathy towards this person so I offered her the best I could.

“Come with me. There’s a shelter here just around the corner right after Trevor Square. I am a volunteer there and there’s hot food and a warm bed if you’re lucky to have one. I am not sure about the sleeping arrangements for ladies, but I am sure it is separated from the guys. Come on, get your blade of grass up and follow me. We walk on the streets where there’s light. It is not right for you to be here, especially if you are a girl!”

Some time later…..

We soon reached the shelter and I introduced the girl whose name is Sue Hunter to Laura and the latter briefed her on what to do in this shelter. I proceeded to my bed, unrolled the mattress and changed to the pair of flip flops, took the plastic bag of toiletries and headed to the washroom.

While I was there, Sue’s voice sounded in my head and she said, “Well, congratulations Matthew. You have made an impact on your social skills and had gained another 5% to your status. It’s a good thing that you had made a new friend along the way, maybe she could be of some help to you in getting to where you want to be in the future.”

I paused brushing my teeth and mumbled to myself, “I’ve got a lot of things in my hand right now and I have not even started doing the things that I am supposed to do. I would rather be alone right now, settle at least some books that I needed most and then learn till I get about 3 stars and then I can start to look for band members or something?”

I inquired since that proposal seemed ideal but then Sue the system intervened and informed me that the idea was totally off! “If you want to excel, then you should be upgrading yourself to the max first. Then practise the skills and I will tell you when you would be looking for band members, alright?”

“The band members should be doing the same as you and would have attained at least 5 Basic Skills musically. If not then the band members would be your responsibilities in order for you to get the books for them to let them practise. It would be better if they were the ones who had learnt the Basic Skills first, rather than letting them be your liability. You do not want that to happen, right?”

Seems that this virtual game is becoming as rea{l as it gets compared to the real world.

I went back to my bed and rolled on the bed before drowsiness took over me and I fell asleep soon right after.

The next morning…..

“Hey, you’re Matthew, am I right? I was just wondering if there’s a vacancy over at your workplace or not? I mean, I need to find the dough and wouldn’t mind working hard for it.”

“It seems that you are a player too, huh? Why are you not concentrating on your stats and spend time concentrating on working at this moment? Like me, I had a 3-month subscription and could be getting like £2,500 weekly and I would be getting some Skill Books soon.”

“Hey, are you listening to me or what? Are on some drugs or something? You spacing out, man!”

Indeed I was not on drugs but I am sure spacing out when I heard about the subscription once more and the girl before me is getting 2,500 a week for 3 months based on a subscription!

What kind of subscription is this girl blabbering about in the morning?!?!?!